Fabric gripper



Febgs, 1935.

H. C. ABERLE FABRIC GRIPPER Filed sept. 7, 1932 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE H. C; Aberle Company,` Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvaniav This invention relates to a device for gripping the welt of a full-fashioned stocking blank being or to be made onV a flat full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, and is particularly adaptable inrconnection with Woven Welts having a spaced Warp affording a readily discernible line for topping the woven welt onto the needles of the knitting machine, as disclosed in the applicants prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,860,272 dated May 24, 1932. l

Theinventionis particularly adaptable to elastic Welts of the general type disclosed ini-said patent, and the primary object of the invention is to grip the Welt at all points across Vthe Vfull width thereof in order that uniform tension will be appliedY at all the needles knitting the stocking blank to the Welt.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device made and operatingv in accordance with the principles of the `present invention; Y l 4 v Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on' the line 2 2, Fig. l; and A l v Fig. 3 illustrates the Welt gripper being applied to a welt subsequent tothe topping of the Welt along one of its edges to the needles ofa fiat full-fashioned l hosiery knitting machine adapted to knit theleg of a stocking onto the Welt.

The device comprises a tube 1 having a handle ZcOmprising a-pair of laterally extending arms 3 integrally connected by a bar 4 paralleling the tube l, the arms 3, 3 in the present instance fbeing rigidly secured to the tube 1 in any desired manner as by soldering,.we1ding, brazing, etc.

Within the' tube 1 is rotatably mounted a bar 5 having a slot which is arranged to be aligned Withacorresponding slot 7 extending longitudinally ofthe tube 1 for the reception of oneedge Y of the welt W, as, clearly illustrated in.Fig..3. Y

The clamp bar 5 is provided with a cam surface 8I which, When the tube lis turned relativefto .the clamp bar 5 froIn/the fabric-receiving position shown in Eig. 3 to the fabric-gripping position shown in Fig. 2, clamps the welt W against theA inner surface 9 of ano'verhanging portion 10 ofthe tube 1 adjacent one side of the slot 7 therein, theoverhanging portion l ofthe tube 1 being more or lessjresilient andacting as a spring clip to press thewelt lW firmly against the cam surface 8 ofthe clamp bar 5, whereby the Welt W is snubbed around the edge l1 of` the slot 7 in the tube 1 and the edgeA 18 of thebar 5 inthe form of. an SY turn as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. `The clamp bar is `providedwith a handle l2 comprising arms 13,13, in the `'present instance horizontal plane theedge W2 of the Welt is placed.

within the aligned slot 7 of the tube 1 andgroove 6 of the `vbar 5, `as, seen in Fig. 3. The handle 2 of the tube lis thenturned. from the position shown in Fig-Btothat sho-Wn invFig. 2 wherein the handlebanyi ofthe tube handle l is immediately underthe handle bar 16 of the handle 12 of the clamp bar-5,;5vhich rotates thetube 1 about 4the clamp bar 5 and effects gripping and snubbing of the Welt W as noted above:` l

[The handle bars 4 and 16 are then held in the fabric grippingfposition cfrFig. 2 by a .hook or other fastening 20securedto one end ofthe take up strap 21V ofthe knitting head, the `opposite end of `the strap-,being secured to the spring Y loaded` take-up` rollof .the knitting head inv-.the usual" manner `and, not shown in the present instance. i ,l l,

Relative longitudinal `movement between the tube 1 and clamp barV 5 is prevented by the arms 13, 13 of the handle 12 of the clamp bar 5 operating in y circumferential segmental relatively spaced slots 17, V17 formed in the tube 1 as clearly shown in Figs. 1,2 andB.,

.Iclairnzi 1. A fabric .gripper forV4 use with a flat knitting machine, said gripper comprising a pair of coaxiallyarranged relatively rotatable rectilinear `elements slotted longitudinally for receiving one edge o`f= apiece of fabric having its oppositeV edge attached toca bankof needles in said machine, said elements havingffabric engagingl surfaces respectivelydisposed 'adjacent the` slots therein for cooperatively gripping the fabric therebetween in overlapping relationV of each other upon relative rotation betweensaid elements.

2. A fabric gripperl for use witha flat knitting machine, said gripper comprising a tubular element having a longitudinallly extending 'slotfor receiving one edge of a piece of fabric having its opposite edge attached toabank of needles in said machine, said tubular element vhaving a fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot, and an element rotatably mounted in said tubular member and provided With a fabricengaging surface adapted to cooperate' with that of said tubular element for grippingthe fabric therebetween upon 0f a piece of fabric having its opposite edge at` tached to a bank of needles in said machine said secondl element having a fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot for cooperation withthe fabric engaging surface of said tubular yelement to grip the fabric therebetween upon relative rotation of said elements.

4. A fabric gripper for use with afiat knitr ting machine, said gripper comprisinga tubular;

element provided with a longitudinally extending slot anda fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot, a second element rotatably mounted in said tubular element and provided with a longitudinally extending groove arranged to Vregister with the slot in said tubular element for receiving one edge of a piece of fabric having its opposite edgeY attached to a bank of needles in said machine said second element having a fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot for cooperation with the fabric engaging surface of said tubular element to grip the fabric therebetween upon relative rotation of said elements, and means for locking said elements in said fabric gripping relation;l f

5. A fabric gripper for use with a fiat knitting machine, said gripper comprising a tubularl element provided with a longitudinally extending slot and a fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot, a second element rotatably mounted 'in said tubular element and provided with a longitudinally extending groove arranged to register with the slot in said tubularelement for receiving one edge of a piece of fabric having its opposite edge attached to a banklof needles in'said machine said second element having a fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot for cooperation with the fabric engaging surface of said tubular element to grip the fabric therebetween upon relative rotation of said elements, a handle on said second element, a handle on said tubular element, and means for locking said handles to secure said elements in saidv fabric gripping position.

6. A fabric gripper for usewith a flat knitting machine, said gripperrcomprising a tubular ele- {ment provided `with a longitudinally extending slot anda fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot, a second element rotatably mounted; in said tubular'element and provided with a longitudinally extending groove arranged to register with the slot in said Vtubular element for receiving one edge of a piece of fabric having'its opposite edge attached tov a bank of needles in said'l'machine said'second element having a fabric engagingY surface adjacent said slot for cooperation with thc fabric engaging surface of said tubular element to grip the fabric therebetween upon relative rotation of .said elements, a handle on said second element, a handle on said tubular element, and means arranged to engage saidh'andlesY simultaneously to lock said elements in'said fabric gripping relation. Y

7. A fabric gripper for use with a'flat knitting machine, said gripper comprising a Vtubular eleN ment provided with a longitudinally extending slot and a fabric engaging surface adjacent said chine,

slot, a second element rotatably mounted in said tubular element and provided with a longitudiof said elements, a handle on said second element, a handle in said tubular element, and means for securing said handles together to lock said elements in said fabric gripping relation and to at- V tach said-gripper t0 a tensioning mechanism of said machine.

8. A fabric gripper for use with a flat knitting machine, saidV gripper 'comprising a tubular element provided with a longitudinally extending slot and arfabric Vengaging surface adjacent said slotya second element rotatably mounted in said tubular element and provided with a longitudinally extendinggroove arranged to register with theslct in said tubular element for receiving one edge of a piece of fabric having its opposite edge attached to a bank of needles in said machine said second element having a fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot for cooperation with the fabric engaging surface of saidrtubular element to grip the fabric therebetween upon relative rotation of said elements, a handle on said second element, a handle on said tubular element,

a hookl arranged to engage said handles simultaneously to vlock said elements in said fabric gripping relation. Y

` 9. A fabric gripper for use with a flat knitting machine, said gripper comprising a tubular element provided with a longitudinally extending slot and a fabric engaging surface adjacent said slot, a-second element rotatably mounted in said Vtubular element and provided with a longitudinallyy extending groove arranged to register with the slot in said tubular element for receiving one edge of a piece of fabric having its opposite edge attached'to a bank of needles in said machine said secondV element havingY a fabric engaging surface of said tubular element to grip the fabric therebetween upon relative rotation of said elements a handle on said second element, a handle on said tubular element, a hook arranged to engage said handles simultaneously to 'lock said elements in said fabric gripping relation and a strap having one end attached to said hook with its opposite end adapted 'to be attached to a tensioning mechanism of saidma- 10. *A fabric gripper for use with a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles of predetermined width, said gripper comprising a pair of relatively movable elements each provided with a rectilinear edge and an adjacent fabric-gripping surface substantiallyas long as the width of the bank of needles for receiving and engaging therebetween vand substantially parallel-Y to the i.

bank of ,needles a portion of afabric being knit by said needles, means for moving one of said elements relative to the other of saidV elements to move said edge and surface thereof in a path substantially coincident with and forming a continuation of said surface to a position wherein the edge of each cf said elements is disposed over the surface of the other element inwardly from the edge of said other element, and means maintaining said edges substantially parallelone to the other throughout said relative movement between said elements.

11. A fabric gripper for use with a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles of predetermined width, said gripper comprising a pair of relatively movable elements each provided with a rectilinear edge and an adjacent fabric-gripping surface substantially as long as the width of the bank of needles for receiving and engaging therebetween and substantially parallel to the bank of needles a portion of a fabric being knit by said needles, means for moving one of said elements relative to the other of said elements to move said edge and surface thereof in a path substantially coincident with and forming a continuation of said surface to a position wherein the edge of each of said elements is disposed over the surface of the other element inwardly from the edge of said other element with the fabric gripped between said surfaces, and means for locking said elements in said fabric-gripping position, said locking means serving as a means for attaching the gripper to a fabric-tensioning and take-up mechanism of said machine.

l2. A fabric gripper for use with a fiat knitting machine having a bank of needles of predetermined width, said gripper comprising a pair of relatively movable elements each provided with a rectilinear edge and an adjacent fabricgripping surface substantially as long as the width of the bank of needles for receiving and engage therebetween and substantially parallel to the bank of needles a portion of a fabric being knit by said needles, means for moving one of said elements relative to the second of said elements to move said edge and surface of the rst element in a path substantially coincident with and forming a continuation of said surface to aV position wherein the edge of each of said elements is disposed over the surface of the other element inwardly from the edge of said other element with the fabric gripped between said surfaces, the fabric-engaging surface of the second element being inclined to the path of movement of the fabric-engaging edge and surface of the first relatively movable element for increasing the grip of said surfaces on said fabric in accordance with the relative movement between said surfaces.

13. A fabric gripper for use with a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles of predetermined width, said gripper comprising a pair of pivotally connected relatively movable elements each provided with a rectilinear edge and an adjacent fabric-gripping surface substantially as long as the width of the bank of needles for receiving and engaging therebetween and substantially parallel to the bank of needles a portion of a fabric being knit by said needles, and means for rocking one of said elements relative to the other of said elements to move said edge and surface thereof in a circular path substantially coincident with and forming a continuation of said surface and swung from the axis of the pivotal connection between said elements to a position wherein the edge of each of said elements is disposed over the surface of the other element Acircumferentially inwardly from the edge of said other element.

14. A fabric gripper for use with a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles of predetermined width, said gripper comprising a pair of relatively movable elements each provided with a rectilinear edge and an adjacent fabricgripping surface substantially as long as the width of the bank of needles for receiving and engaging therebetween and substantially parallel to the bank of needles a portion of a fabric being knit by said needles, means for moving one of said elements relative to the other of saidelements to move said edge and surface thereof in a path substantially coincident with and forming a continuation of said surface to a position wherein the edge of each of said elements is disposed over the surface of the other element inwardly from the edge of said other element, and means extending substantially at right angles to said surfaces for placing said fabric under tension and maintaining said surfaces substantially perpendicular to the plane of the portion of the fabric lyingv between the needles and the gripper.

' HARRY C. ABERLE.` 

